“That Dáil Éireann:
notes:
— the importance of incentives to encourage recycling so that Ireland’s dependency on landfill is decreased;
— the importance of a properly funded and consistent awareness and education campaign for the general public about waste management, reduction and recycling;
— the need for greater focus on waste reduction initiatives from Government and industry to help consumers create less waste;
— the crucial need for an efficient, cost-effective waste collection processing sector;
— the concern about lack of competition in some areas leading to excessive costs;
— the recent increases in illegal dumping in urban and rural areas; and
— that a sudden and unexpected increase in the cost of waste collection will create a disproportionate burden on low-income families and must be avoided;

condemns:

— illegal dumping which is destroying our countryside;
— unilateral unjustified increases in bin charges; and
— the exclusion of some communities in rural areas from availing of free brown bins for food waste;

agrees:

— that waste collectors need to be open and transparent in relation to their transactions and costs for customers;
— that there should be an incentivised, fair and transparent pricing structure that allows for best value for money for the consumer;
— to monitor waste collection providers to prevent the formation of cartels; and
— that unilateral increases to waste collection charges are unacceptable; and

calls for:

— the establishment of a new independent Waste Regulator to:
— establish the true cost associated with the collection and processing of waste by the waste collection industry;
— ensure an effective, competitive market with fair and transparent pricing; and
— ensure that households with special needs, including large families and those with incontinence needs, are not unduly penalised where they have already made full efforts to reduce their waste;
— the Environmental Protection Agency to analyse the increased frequency of illegal dumping, to assess whether this has coincided with the privatisation of waste collection and to make recommendations;
— increased funding for local authorities so that they can detect and introduce increased fines for those who dump illegally; and
— increased funds to local authorities to allow them to clean up and dispose of rubbish which is having a negative impact on many urban and rural areas.” — Timmy Dooley, Bobby Aylward, John Brassil, Declan Breathnach, James Browne, Mary Butler, Thomas Byrne, Jackie Cahill, Dara Calleary, Pat Casey, Shane Cassells, Jack Chambers, Lisa M. Chambers, Niall Collins, Barry Cowen, John Curran, Stephen S. Donnelly, Sean Fleming, Pat the Cope Gallagher, Seán Haughey, Billy Kelleher, John Lahart, James Lawless, Marc MacSharry, Micheál Martin, Charlie McConalogue, Michael McGrath, John McGuinness, Aindrias Moynihan, Michael Moynihan, Eugene Murphy, Margaret Murphy O'Mahony, Darragh O'Brien, Jim O'Callaghan, Éamon Ó Cuív, Willie O'Dea, Kevin O'Keeffe, Fiona O'Loughlin, Frank O'Rourke, Anne Rabbitte, Eamon Scanlon, Brendan Smith, Niamh Smyth, Robert Troy.
[30 June, 2017]